ELOVL4 Archives – The Bio Connection

Unexpected Finding May Deter Disabling Diabetic Eye Disease

April 9, 2018 TheBioConnection Comment(0)

Diabetic retinopathy is considered one of the most disabling complications of diabetes and the leading cause of new cases of vision loss among adults. A new Michigan State University study is the first to find that a particular type of lipid, or fat, thought to only exist in the skin, now lives in your eye […]

Whale shark logs longest-recorded trans-Pacific migration April 26, 2018
A whale shark named Anne swam all the way across the Pacific from Coiba National Park in Panama to the Marianas Trench, setting a record as the longest-recorded migration.
Prosthetic arms can provide controlled sensory feedback April 26, 2018
Losing an arm doesn't have to mean losing all sense of touch, thanks to prosthetic arms that stimulate nerves with mild electrical feedback. Researchers have developed a control algorithm that regulates the current so a prosthetics user feels steady sensation, even when the electrodes begin to peel off or when sweat builds up.
US autism rate up 15 percent over 2 year period April 26, 2018
A new report that finds the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among 11 surveillance sites as one in 59 among children aged 8 years in 2014 (or 1.7 percent).
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox observed in many-particle system for the first time April 26, 2018
Physicistshave observed the quantum mechanical Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox in a system of several hundred interacting atoms for the first time. The phenomenon dates back to a famous thought experiment from 1935. It allows measurement results to be predicted precisely and could be used in new types of sensors and imaging methods for electromagnetic fields.
'Infinitely' recyclable polymer shows practical properties of plastics April 26, 2018
The world fell in love with plastics because they're cheap, convenient, lightweight and long- lasting. For these same reasons, plastics are now trashing the Earth. Chemists have just announced another major step toward waste-free, sustainable materials that could one day compete with conventional plastics.
Why a robot can't yet outjump a flea April 26, 2018
Smashing mantis shrimp. Snapping trap-jaw ants. Stinging jellyfish. Some of the fastest living things -- at least over short distances -- are also the smallest. A new mathematical model explores how the smallest and speediest things on Earth generate their powerful jumps, snaps, strikes and punches. The model could help explain why robots can't hold […]
Genetic roadmap to building an entire organism from a single cell April 26, 2018
In three landmark studies,researchers report how they have systematically profiled every cell in developing zebrafish and frog embryos to establish a roadmap revealing how one cell builds an entire organism. The findings represent a catalog of genetic 'recipes' for generating different cell types and provide an unprecedented resource for the study of developmental biology and […]
Transparent eel-like soft robot can swim silently underwater April 26, 2018
An innovative, eel-like robot developed by engineers and marine biologists can swim silently in salt water without an electric motor. Instead, the robot uses artificial muscles filled with water to propel itself. The foot-long robot, which is connected to an electronics board that remains on the surface, is also virtually transparent.
Projectile cannon experiments show how asteroids can deliver water April 25, 2018
New research shows that a surprising amount of water survives simulated asteroid impacts, a finding that may help explain how asteroids deposit water throughout the solar system.
Ultrahigh-pressure laser experiments shed light on super-Earth cores April 25, 2018
Using high-powered laser beams, researchers have simulated conditions inside a planet three times as large as Earth. The pressures achieved in this study, up to 1,314 gigapascals (GPa), allowed researchers to gather the highest-pressure X-ray diffraction data ever recorded and generate new, more robust models for the interior structure of large, rocky exoplanets.

The Hydroponics Company boosts quarterly revenue past $1 million mark April 27, 2018
March quarter revenue was 31% higher than the previous quarter and extrapolates to annual revenue of $4.3 million.
Admedus enters into letter of intent to arrange alternative funding for immunotherapies division April 27, 2018
The terms of the agreement are based on a minimum initial investment of $18 million for a 60% interest in Admedus Vaccines.
Futura Medical kicks off work on Phase III trial for erectile dysfunction gel April 26, 2018
James Barder, chief executive of Futura Medical PLC (LON:FUM), tells Proactive they've begun preparatory work on the first Phase III efficacy trial for MED2002 - their topical gel for erectile dysfunction (ED). The study will recruit approximately 1,000 patients with mild, moderate and severe ED and compare the efficacy of 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% GTN […]
Buds, Batteries and Blockchain: Redfund to showcase at Toronto investor summit April 26, 2018
Newly launched Redfund Capital to showcase at the 7th annual InvestorIntel Summit
Bristol-Myers beats 1Q estimates, guides higher for full-year 2018 on drug approvals April 26, 2018
The drug giant reported earnings of $0.94 per share on revenue of US$5.2bn. The consensus estimate from analysts was US$0.85 per share on revenue of US$5.2bn
Shire reports quarterly revenue growth as focus on rare diseases pays off April 26, 2018
Shire’s focus on rare diseases paid off with growth in the first quarter driven by product sales in haematology and immunology.
Concepta shares surge as it signs logistics agreement with SinoPharm for myLotus distribution April 26, 2018
Under the terms of the deal, the FTSE 100-listed firm will receive regular quarterly orders for myLotus meters from SinoPharm, with 50% upfront payment and 50% paid on delivery
Akers Biosciences relieves co-founder Raymond Akers of executive duties April 26, 2018
Co-founder of the company that bears his name, Dr Raymond Akers was executive chairman and also the company's chief scientific officer
Futura Medical starts work on Phase III trial for its erectile dysfunction gel April 26, 2018
The AIM-listed firm said the trial will be a dose ranging, multicentre, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, home use, parallel group clinical trial of topically applied glyceryl trinitrate (GNT)
The Hydroponics Company acquires world-class biomanufacturing facility, shares up April 26, 2018
Notably, receipts from customers for the March quarter were up 31% to $1.079 million.

STAT Plus: McKesson board exonerates execs from opioid crisis, but the Teamsters cry foul April 25, 2018
“The conclusions drawn from the Board’s review underscore just how far the country’s largest opioid distributor has yet to go,” a Teamsters official said.
STAT Plus: Compounder enters a consent decree with FDA, then issues tone-deaf tweets April 25, 2018
In a curious move, an unidentified Cantrell executive sparred openly on Twitter with an industry regulatory consultant over the seriousness of the allegations leveled by the FDA.
STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Shire board likes latest Takeda offer; generic price-fixing charges loom April 25, 2018
U.S. prosecutors are nearing their first charges against companies in alleged price-fixing by generic drug makers.
STAT Plus: Public speakers at FDA advisory meetings have financial conflicts, but do they sway outcomes? April 24, 2018
About one-fifth of the conflicted speakers did not disclose financial ties to drug companies.
STAT Plus: Supreme Court rules that patent reviews detested by pharma are constitutional April 24, 2018
“If you’re an innovator drug company, you’re probably disappointed today.”
STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Express Scripts targets new migraine drugs; Takeda edges closer to a deal for Shire April 24, 2018
Takeda Pharmaceuticals is nearing a preliminary agreement to acquire Shire after sweetening its roughly $60 billion bid.
STAT Plus: How a patient advocacy group is used to promote an Insys drug and other fentanyl meds April 23, 2018
Insys, which makes the Subsys opioid painkiller, provided $2.5 million to a patient advocacy group. A new essay in a bioethics blog follows the money.
STAT Plus: U.K. ministers urge Vertex to reach pricing deal on its cystic fibrosis drug April 23, 2018
Two U.K. health ministers are calling on Vertex to provide an “urgent resolution” to negotiations over access to its cystic fibrosis drug.
STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Fresenius walks away from Akorn deal; FDA bounces a Pfizer biosimilar April 23, 2018
Fresenius walked away from a pending $4.3 billion acquisition of Akorn, a generic drug maker, after a finding problems with product-development practices.
STAT Plus: NIH is sued for plans to award exclusive license for CAR-T therapy to Gilead April 20, 2018
A patient advocacy group has filed a lawsuit to block the federal government from awarding an exclusive license to Gilead for an experimental cancer therapy.